Opening and closure device, method of manufacturing an opening and closure device and a packaging container having such opening and closure device

Abstract

The present invention relates to an opening and closure device on a packaging container for liquid or semi-liquid food. The packaging container has a fold line and an opening line intersecting in an intersection point, thereby dividing the opening line into a first opening line portion and a second opening line portion. The opening and closure device comprises an opening device adapted for facilitating rupture of the packaging material along the opening line, and a closure device adapted for re-closing the packaging container after opening along the opening line. The invention also comprises a packaging container with an opening and closure device and a method of manufacturing the packaging container.

1 . Opening and closure device on a packaging container for liquid or semi-liquid food, said packaging container being made of packaging material and having a first fold line and an opening line, said first fold line and opening line intersect in an intersection point, said intersection point dividing the opening line into a first opening line portion and a second opening line portion, wherein the opening and closure device comprises an opening device adapted for facilitating rupture of the packaging material along the opening line, said opening device has an opening edge that is at least partly aligned along the first opening line portion and arranged on a first side of the opening line, wherein a second side of the opening line comprises an openable area of the packaging container, such that a consumer can fold the opening and closure device at the first fold line and force the packaging material of the opening line against the opening edge to facilitate rupture of the packaging material along the opening line, and wherein the opening and closure device further comprises a closure device adapted for re-closing the packaging container after opening along the opening line, said closure device comprises at least a first closure device part and a second closure device part, said first and second closure device parts being provided on different sides of the first fold line, and said first and second closure device parts being provided with mutual lockable members such that the first and second closure device parts may be releasably locked to each other, after folding the opening device along a second fold line. 
     
     
         2 . The opening and closure device according to  claim 1 , wherein the first opening line portion is arranged to substantially coincide with the second opening line portion when the opening and closure device is folded along the first fold line. 
     
     
         3 . The opening and closure device according to  claim 1 , wherein each of the first and second opening line portions is angled an angle (a) with respect to the first fold line, and wherein the second opening line portion is a mirror of the first opening line portion around the first fold line. 
     
     
         4 . The opening and closure device according  claim 1 , wherein the second fold line is parallel to the opening line, and wherein the intersection point divides the second fold line into a first fold line portion and a second fold line portion. 
     
     
         5 . The opening and closure device according to  claim 1 , wherein the opening device has a fold edge ( 12   b ) that is at least partly aligned along the first fold line and arranged on a first side of the fold line. 
     
     
         6 . The opening and closure device according to  claim 1 , wherein the opening edge is toothed or serrated. 
     
     
         7 . The opening and closure device according to  claim 1 , wherein the opening and closure device is made of a polymeric material and the opening and closure device is injection molded onto the packaging container before forming of the packaging container. 
     
     
         8 . The opening and closure device according to any of the preceding claims  claim 1 , wherein one of the first or second closure device parts forms part of the opening device. 
     
     
         9 . The opening and closure device according to  claim 1 , wherein the first closure device part forms part of the opening device. 
     
     
         10 . The opening and closure device according to  claim 1 , wherein the first closure device part is a first lockable member formed as at least one protrusion, and wherein the second closure device part comprises a second lockable member provided with a loop portion and an attachment portion, and wherein the at least one protrusion of the first lockable member is adapted to be inserted into at least one opening of the loop portion of the second lockable member for locking the first and the second lockable members together. 
     
     
         11 . The opening and closure device according to  claim 10 , wherein the loop portion and the first lockable member are freely suspended from or detachable from the packaging material of the packaging container. 
     
     
         12 . The opening and closure device according to  claim 4 , wherein the opening device is provided in between the first opening line portion and the first fold line portion, on a first side of the second fold line, and at least the first lockable member extends past the second fold line to a second side of the second fold line. 
     
     
         13 . The opening and closure device according to  claim 10 , wherein the loop portion is distanced from the second fold line a distance corresponding to the distance between the opening line and the second fold line, by means of the attachment portion, which attachment portion is attached to the packaging container. 
     
     
         14 . The opening and closure device according to  claim 10 , wherein there is provided a hinge area between the loop portion and the attachment portion. 
     
     
         15 . The opening and closure device according to  claim 10 , wherein the first lockable member is formed as a protrusion extending past the second fold line to a second side of the second fold line. 
     
     
         16 . A method of manufacturing a packaging container with an opening and closure device, said method comprising:
 providing a packaging material comprising a bulk layer, which on a first side has a polymer layer,   moulding the opening and closure device onto the first side of the packaging material, said opening and closure device comprises an opening device and a closure device, wherein the opening device and a first closure device part of the closure device is arranged on a first side of a first fold line of the packaging container, and a second closure device part of the closure device is arranged on a second side of the first fold line, thereby obtaining a packaging material comprising the opening and closure device,   forming the packaging material into a tube by sealing overlapping longitudinal edges thereof,   filling the tube with a liquid or semi-liquid food product, and   sealing the tube along transverse seal zones to form a cushion-shaped packaging container, said sealing being made such that the packaging material is folded around the first fold line in the seal zones, and such that the opening and closure device is positioned in one corner of the packaging container.   
     
     
         17 . The method according to  claim 16 , wherein the step of moulding comprises:
 arranging, on the first side of the packaging material, a first mould portion comprising at least a first mould cavity,   arranging a second mould portion on the other side of the packaging material, positioned opposite the first mould portion,   injecting a plastic melt into the first mould cavity, and   removing the first and the second mould portions.   
     
     
         18 . The method according to  claim 16 , wherein the packaging material is a web for forming more than one packaging container, and the step of sealing comprises sealing the tube along transverse mutually apart seal zones to form cushion-shaped packaging containers, and the method further comprises the step of separating the packaging containers from the tube by incisions in the seal zones. 
     
     
         19 . A packaging container for liquid or semi-liquid food, wherein said packaging container
 is made of a longitudinal tube of packaging material which has been sealed off in the ends by top and bottom transverse seal zones to form a cushion-shape,   has a first fold line and an opening line, said first fold line and opening line intersect in an intersection point, said intersection point divides the opening line into a first opening line portion and a second opening line portion, and   is provided with an opening and closure device comprising:
 an opening device adapted for facilitating rupture of the packaging material along the opening line, said opening device has an opening edge that is at least partly aligned along the first opening line portion and arranged on a first side of the opening line, wherein a second side of the opening line comprises an openable area of the packaging container, such that a consumer can fold the opening and closure device at the first fold line and force the packaging material of the opening line against the opening edge to facilitate rupture of the packaging material along the opening line, and 
 a closure device adapted for re-closing the packaging container after opening along the opening line, said closure device comprises at least a first closure device part and a second closure device part, said first and second closure device parts being provided on different sides of the first fold line, and said first and second closure device parts being provided with mutual lockable members such that the first and second closure device parts may be releasably locked to each other, after folding the opening device along a second fold line. 
   
     
     
         20 . The packaging container according to  claim 19 , wherein
 the packaging container has a top transverse seal zone,   the first fold line forms a side edge of the packaging container, such that the second closure device part is arranged on a first face of the packaging container and the first closure device part and the opening device are arranged on a second face of the packaging container.   
     
     
         21 . The packaging container according to  claim 20 , wherein the opening device extends between the first fold line and the top transverse seal zone. 
     
     
         22 . The packaging container according to  claim 20 , wherein the openable area is a corner of the packaging container. 
     
     
         23 . The packaging container according to  claim 20 , wherein the closure device extends along the opening line and the second fold line a substantial portion, particularly more than 80%, of the distance from the first fold line to the upper transverse seal zone.